PHILADELPHIA  Opposing pitchers, even vulnerable ones, continue to rip through the Padres. A trend more than two months in the making continues. A.J. Burnett was the latest beneficiary, helping limit the visitors to five hits in the Phillies’ 5-2 win Tuesday.

In what has been a rare sight at Citizens Bank Park this season, a crowd of 31,037 stood and applauded, but even that was a muted appreciation, considering the stakes and the competition.

The Phillies merely improved to 26-36 in the series opener. It came against the lightest-hitting of teams, the Padres falling to 28-36, just a half-game ahead of last-place Arizona in the National League West.

"It's something that's just hard to put into words," said Will Venable, who had two of the Padres' hits. "I feel like we're right there. I don't really know what else to say about it, other than we feel like we put ourselves in a good position as far as approach. We're going out there and trying to get the job done, but it just doesn't always happen."

In the top of the ninth, with one out and two on, Yonder Alonso came to the plate as the tying run. He went down swinging against Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon, who plunked Rene Rivera to load the bases. Tommy Medica, pinch-hitting for Jace Peterson, grounded meekly to short for the clinching out. Papelbon earned his 300th career save.

"We were one hit away from making that game really interesting," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We loaded the bases against a guy who's been throwing the ball well. They executed a pitch and, prior, we didn't. That's what the game came down to."

The Padres’ lead had been short-lived. In the third, Venable yanked a two-out solo shot over the right-field fence. It was just his second home run of the season.

It also was one of the few mistakes made by Burnett, who faced a pliant lineup. The right-hander, who had not thrown fewer than 93 pitches in any start this season, needed just 69 to get through six innings.

He entered the game having issued 41 walks, most in the majors. He yielded one to the second batter of the game, Everth Cabrera, but Carlos Quentin grounded into an inning-ending double play.

After Burnett walked pinch-hitter Cameron Maybin, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg lifted him from the game. It was just the second walk issued by Burnett. It was the eighth inning. He left to a standing ovation, having allowed just three hits on 89 pitches.

"Good curveball - one of those you try not to swing at, because it's a ball a lot of times - but it was tough to pick up the spin," Venable said. "He's been around a long time. He knows how to pitch. He's maybe not having as great a season as he's used to, but he's still a really good pitcher and made it tough on us tonight."

Burnett’s counterpart was not nearly as successful. Ian Kennedy had his three-start winning streak snapped, undone by a 29-pitch fourth inning.